Door-catch.



W. D. PBRRIS. n DOOR CATCH. V APPLIOATIN FILED AUGl 3, 1908.

972,177. Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

WILLIAM D. FERRIS, F STERLING, ILLINOIS.

DOOR-CATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

Application filed August 8, 1908. Serial No. 446,792.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, W ILLIAM D. FERRIs, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Sterling, county of IVhiteside, and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Catches, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to door-catches and more particularly tospring-catches which are adapted for use with screen or other lightdoors, shutters or the like, for snugly holding the same against theirjambs. Such catches are arranged to yield when force is applied to thedoor to open the same and to automatically re'e'ngage a partorprojection, when the door is closed, to hold the door yieldingly insuch closed position.

The invention seeks to provide a simple construction in which thespring-actuated catch will act effectively to hold the door snugly inclosed position even though the latter is warped, and consists in thefeatures of improvement hereinafter set forth, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the improved catchshown applied to the door with the door in closed position. Fig. 2 is asimilar view with the door in a slightly open position. Fig. 3 is a planview of the catch with the door and door jamb shown in section on theline 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a rear view in elevation of the improvedcatch with parts shown in section on the line 1-1lof Fig. 3.

The improved catch comprises a springactuated catch member which isautomatically shifted back and forth between its active and its inactivepositions as the door is opened and closed. The spring of said catchmember is preferably so arranged as to tend constantly to shift saidcatch member to its active position in which the catch operates tosnugly but yieldingly hold the door against its amb. A stop is arrangedto hold the catch member in its inactive position against the tension ofthe operating spring and the catch member is automatically shift-- edinto and out of engagement with said stop as the door is opened andclosed. The catch member preferably cooperates with a projecting pinmember and is shifted thereby into and out of engagement with the stop,and the catch member is arranged to act upon the pin or projection tohold the door snugly against its jamb.Y One of the members, preferablythe spring-actuated catch, is adapted to be mounted on the door jambwhile the other member, preferably the pin or projection, is adapted tobe mounted on the door. Inasmuch as the actuating spring for the catchmember constantly tends to shift into its active position it can actvery efficiently to draw the door through the final part of its closingmovement and to snugly hold the door against its jamb even though thedoor may be warped.

The improved catch is particularly designed for use in connection withscreen doors, which are light in construction and apt to warp or standpartially open, particularly if the spring usually employed for closingthe screen door is weak. The improved catch will supplement the actionof such a door-closing spring and will hold the door tightly closed toprevent the entrance of Hies or other insects, even though the door bewarped or the door-closing spring weak.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawingsthe pin member 5 is Ushaped or is in the form of an elongated staplewith outturned end portions or ears 6 which are perforated to receivescrews 7 by which the staple or pin member 5 is secured to the door 8adjacent its outer edge.

The catch member is mounted upon a suitable bracket which, as shown, ispreferably in the form of a casing having a front wall 9, side walls 10and end walls 11. The end walls 11 are provided with projecting,perforated ears 12 which are arranged to receive the screws 13 by whichthe bracket or casing is secured to the face of the door jainb 14adjacent its ed e. A shiftable support for the catch mem er is mountedupon the bracket or casing and this support is preferably in the form ofa pivoted arm 15 that is arranged within the casing and against the rearface of the front wall 9 thereof. A pin 16 having headed ends pivotallyconnects the supporting arm 15 to the front wall of the casing. A pivotpin 17 connected to the op` posite end of the supporting arm 15 extendsthrough a segmental slot 18 formed in the front wall 9 of the casingadjacent one end thereof and concentric with the pivot pin 16. The catchmember 19 is mounted upon the outer end of the pin 17, which thus servesto pivotally connect the supporting arm 'and the catch member and theend s of which are headed over to hold the parts 1n place. The

. pivot pins 16 and 17 for the supporting arm 15 and the catch member 19are parallel so that the supporting arm and catch member swino or movein parallel planes. The catch mem er 19 is provided at its upper orouter edge with a projection or lug 20 which extends inwardly over theedge of the casing. One of the end walls 11 of the casing with which thelug or projection 2O of the catch member engages, is concentric with thepivot pin 16 about which the catch member 19 and the supporting arm 15move between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as the door is openedand closed. The lug or projection 20 is preferably shaped to conformwith the outline of the end wall 11, and the latter, by its engagementwith the lug or projection 20 acts as a guide to hold the catch memberin proper position as it is shifted between its active and inactivepositions shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

' As stated, the catch member is arranged to be shifted back and forthby the pin member as the door is opened and closed. One of thesemembers7 preferably the catch member, is provided with two arms or lugswhich are arranged to be alternately engaged by the other member. In theform shown, the catch member is provided with two arms or lugs 21 and22. The projecting arm or lug 21 is formed upon the main body of thecatch member and an extension on one edge of the projection I,2O is bentupwardly or outwardly and then inwardly to form theother projecting armor lug 22.

A heavy, coiled spring 23 for operating the catch member is arrangedwithin the casing and is connected at one end to a projection or lug 24on the end wall 11 of the casing adjacent the pivot pin 16. The

spring is thus connected to the casing at a portion thereof which isfarthest from the edge of the door jamb. At its opposite end it engagesa lug 25 upon the free end of the supporting arm 15.

In what may be termed the active post tion of the catch shown in Fig. 1,the supporting arm 15 and the catch member 19 are in Ltheir innermostposition with the lug or projection 20 on the catch member engaging theguide or adjacent end wall 11 of the casing and with 'the arm 22 of thecatch member engaging the end portion of the pin member or staple 5. Inthis position, the pull of the spring 23 upon the supporting arm 15 andcatch member 19 'presses the arm 22 of the catch member against the endof the staple 5 and firmly holds the door against its jamb but the dooris yieldingly held closed, so that, when a certain amount of force isexerted thereon to open it, the pin member or staple 5 will act than? Iupon the arm of the catch member td move the latter, together with thesupport= ing arm 15 to the outward, or what may be termed the inactiveposition shown in Fig. 2. During this outward movement, the lug 2O ofthe catch member is guided upon the adjacent end wall or guide l1 andthe catch member is so held in position thereby that it moves with thesupporting arm 15 about the pivot pin 16. When the pivot pin 17 reachesthe outer end of the slot 18, the movement of the supporting arm 15 isarrested. The lug or projection 2O then extends beyond the end of theguide or wall 11 and the further movement of the pin member or staple 5in outward direction will act upon the lug or arm 22 of the catch memberto turn the latter downwardly about the pivot pin 17 to the positionshown in Fig. 2 with the lug or projection 20 thereof engaging the upperend of the outer side wall 10 of the casing. This upper portion of theouter side wall l() at the end of the guide or end wall 11 acts as astop to hold the catch member in its inactive position against thetension or pull of the spring 23. ln this inactive position the arm orlug 21 of' the catch member is turned up into the path of movement ofthe pin' member or staple .3. The catch member remains in its inactiveposition while the door is opened, but, when the door is again closedeither by a spring or by pressure or force applied thereto, the end ofthe pin member or staple 5 engages the arm 21 of thevcatch member andfirst turns the latter about the pivot pin 17 and moves the lug 2Othereon upwardly out of engagement with the upper stop portion of theside wall 10 and back into engagement with the guide or end wall 11 ofthe casing. The spring 23 is then free to act to draw the supporting arm15 and catch member 19 back to its inner or active position and, duringthis movement, the engagement of the arm 22 of the catch member with theend of the pin member or staple 5 will draw the door snugly to itsclosed position.

It should be noted, that in the preferred arrangement shown, the pull ofthe spring 23 is always exerted upon the same side of the pivot pin 16or center about which the parts move and that the spring thus constantlytends to shift the catch member to inactive position. This arrangementenables the spring to act most effectively to draw the dooi` through thefinal portion of its closing movement and to bring and hold the doorsnugly against the jamb even though the door may be warped or theclosing spring therefor weak. During the greater part of the inward andoutward movements of the catch member it is so held by the engagement ofthe guide or upper end wall 11 of the casing with the lug 20 that itmoves with the supporting arm 15 about the pivot pin 16.

Near' the 'end of its outward n'iovelnent the catch member movesindependently about the pivot pin 17 to bring the lug 2O into engagementwith the stop portion at the upper end or the side wall l() of thecasing and at i the outer end ot' the end wall or guide 1l, so as tohold the catch member in its inactive position against the pull ortension of the spring At the beginning of its inward movement, the catchmember is tirst shifted about the pivot pin 17 out ot engagement withthe stop and then is moved together with the supporting arm 15 by thespring 23 about the pivot pin 1G back to its active position shown inFigs. l, 3 and et.

The bracket or casing which carries the catch member and the pin membermust be mounted in proper relative position on the door frame and door.The parts may be arranged either in 'the position shown in the drawingtor doors which swing to the right or in inverted position :for doorsthat swing to thc lett.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details set forthwithout de parture from the essentials of the invention.

1 claim,

l. A door-catch comprising catch and pin members` one adapted to bemounted on the door and the other on the door trame, of a pivotedsupporting arm whcreon said catch member is pivoted, a spring engagingsaid arm tor holding said catch in active position, and a guide for saidcatch member with a stop at one end of said guide for holding said catchmember in inactive po sition. said pin member being arranged to shiftsaid catch into and out ot engagement with said stop as the door isopened and closed.

2. A door-catch comprising catch and pin members, one adapted to bemounted on the door and the other on the door frame, of a pivotedsupporting arm whereon said catch member is pivoted, a spring engagingsaid arm for holding said catch in active position, and a guide for saidcatch member with a stop at one end of said guide for holding said catchmember in inactive p0- sition, said catch member having two arms or lugswith which said pin member alternately engages to shift said catchmember into and out ot' engagement with said stop as the door is openedand closed.

3. A doorcatch comprising a bracket, a supporting arm pivoted on thebracket, a catch member pivoted on the arm to swing in a plane parallelto the movement of said arm, a spring mounted on said bracket andengaging said supporting arm for holding said catch in active position,said bracket having a guide for said catch member with a stop at one endof said guide for holding said catch member in inactive posit-ion and apin member cooperating with said catch .member and arranged to shift thesame into and out of engagement with said stop as the door is opened andclosed.

4t. A door --catch comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to thedoor frame, a supporting arm pivoted on said bracket, a two-armed catchmember pivoted on said arm to swing in a plane parallel to the movementof said arm, a spring connected to said bracket and said arm for holdingsaid catch member in active position, said bracket 'having a guide forsaid catch member with a stop at one end of said guide for holding saidcatch member in inactive position and a pin member adapted to be mountedand arranged to alternately engage the arms of said catch member toshift the same into and out of engagement with said stop as the door isopened and closed.

5. A door-catch comprising a casing, a shiiitable support mounted insaid casing, a catch member outside of said casing, a pin extendingthrough a slot in said casing and pivotally connecting said support andsaid catch member, a spring in said casing for holding said catch memberin active position, the end andside walls ot said casing formingrespectively a guide for said catch. member and a stop 'for holding thesamc in inactive position, and a pin member cooperating with said catchmember and arranged to shift the same into and ont ot engagement withsaid side wall or stop.

6. A door catch comprising a casing adapt-ed to be secured to the doorframe, ot a supporting arm pivoted on the rear face of the front wall ofsaid casing and having a pin on the end projecting through a mental slotin the front wall of said casing, a two-armed catch part mounted on saidpin and having a projection overlapping the edge of said casing, the endand side walls of said casing cooperating with said projection andforming respectively a guide for said catch member and a stop forholding the same in inactive position, a spring within said casingconnected respectively to the casing and to said arm for holding saidcatch part in active posit-ion, and a pin member adapted to be mountedon the door and arranged to alternately engage the arms of said catchmember to shift the same into and out of engagement with said stop asthe door is opened and closed.

7. A door-catch con'iprising a b acket adapted to be secured to the faceof the door frame, a supporting arm pivoted at one end to said bracket,a two-armed catch member pivoted on the free end of said supporting arm,said supporting arm and said catch member being arranged to swing inplanes parallel to the base of said bracket, a spring` connected to saidbracket and said arm for holding said catch member in active position,said bracket having a guiding surface arranged at right angles to theplanes of movestantially as described.

8. A door catch comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the faceof the door frame, a supporting arm pivoted at one end on said bracket,a catch member pivoted on the end of said supporting arm, said catchmember and said supporting arm being arranged to swing in planesparallel to the base of said bracket and said catch member having twoarms arranged substantially at right angles to each other, said brackethaving a guiding surface at right angles to the planes of movement ofsaid arm and catch member with a stop at one end of said guiding surfaceand said catch member having a part for engaging said guiding surfaceand said stop, a spring connected to said bracket and to the free end ofsaid arm for holding said catch member in active position, and astapleadapted to be secured to the door and arranged to alternately engage thearms of said catch member to shift the same into and out of engagementwith said stop as the door is opened and closed, substantially asdescribed.

9. A door-catch comprising a casing adapted to be secured to the face ofthe door frame, a supporting arm arranged Within said casing and pivotedat one end on the rear face of the front Wall thereof and having a pinon its free end projecting through a segmental slot in the front wall ofsaid casing, a catch member pivoted on the outer end of said pin andhaving two arms arranged substantially at right angles to each other anda projection overlapping the edge of said casing, the end and side wallsof said casing being arranged to coperate with said projection andforming respectively a guide for said catch member and a stop forholding the same in inactive position, a spring Within said casingconnected thereto and to the free end of said supporting arm for holdingsaid catch member in active position, and a staple adapted to bc mountedon the door and arranged to alternately engage the arms of said catchmember to shift the same into and out of engagement with said stop asthe door is opened and closed, substantially as described.

10. A door catch comprising a catch adapted to be mounted on the doorframe and comprising a pivoted supporting arm having a two armed catchmember pivoted thereon, the adjacent or inner edges of said catch memberarms being substantially at right angles to each other, a springengaging said supporting arm for holding said catch member in activeposition, a guide for said catch member with a stop at one end of saidguide for holding said catch member in an inactive position, and amember adapted to be mounted on the door to coperate with said catchmember and arranged to shift the same into and out of an engagement withsaid stop When the door is opened and closed.'

WILLIAM D. FERRIS. VVit-nesses CHARLES H. VVooDUnN, JOHN F. WTAHL.

